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Fifth Metatarsal newbie woes

Posted , 3 users are following.

Trevtwn
Trevtwn

Hi all,

I've read mostly horror stories of recovery, but also some positive ones.  I think I'll focus on the positive ones!

One Saturday night, while chasing after a garbage truck (I live in Taiwan), I rolled my foot and broke the fifth at mid-shaft.  Emergency sent me home with a back slab cast and an appointment on Wednesday with the ortho.  It's Tuesday today and I've since transferred my foot into an Aircast I had from before.  One question I have is, while at rest it is not too bad, but once I move my foot, like to stand up, the site of the break all cramps up and hurts like heck.  I am confused, as other posts I've read say that once the cast was on, no pain unless you put weight on it.  Also, the tip of my big toe is numb all the time.  Anybody else experience this?

To continue my woes, I was scheduled for a subacromial decompression shoulder surgery today that I have been waiting a while for and have had to cancel.  I just got a set of crutches and my first step put my shoulder into more pain than my foot.. grr.  One crutch it is.  I ordered one of those iWalk Free peg legs, so hopefully that will be better than the crutch and five flights of stairs when I go back to work next Wednesday.  

It has literally been over twenty years since I have posted anything on a forum, but this injury really sucks and it would be great to hear from someone to commiserate.

Trev

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • sandi27417
    sandi27417 Trevtwn

    Posted

    Yes it is awful. I was 67 almost 68 when I had a stress fracture of 5th, non displaced. I tried 4 weeks non weightbearing but I would have been a few more months of the same issue so my foot orthopedic and I decided putting a screw in guarantees fast healing with no recurrance. Surgery was a 45 minute procedure with a 36 hour block so never had pain. Was non weight bearing for 4 weeks, another 4 in walking boot then back to hiking and riding. I was lucky to have a wonderful doctor. Good luck to you!!

    • Trevtwn
      Trevtwn sandi27417

      Posted

      Thanks, Sandi!

      I've been reading about the late screw decisions... I bet you wondered what the previous four weeks pre-screw was for!

      I talk to the ortho today, not looking forward to the four flights of stairs and taxi to the hospital. Anyhow, thanks for yoru reply.

    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 Trevtwn

      Posted

      She told me she could put a scre on right away but I wanted to try without. Truthfully, as you stated, I wasted a month!!let me know what your physician says.
    • sandi27417
      sandi27417

      Posted

      Sorry about typo errors!! Screw in right away is what I meant
    • Trevtwn
      Trevtwn sandi27417

      Posted

      no screw offered for me, doc said 6-8 weeks no WB, then on from there. The ortho was amused that he was seeing me for a broken foot in lieu of seeing me in the operating theater for my shoulder.  Adn wacth your typign errors!
    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 Trevtwn

      Posted

      ugh so long NWB! Tough but I had 8 weeks as well. 4 before surgery, 4 after. My arms looked good thoughsmile ok will watch typos 🙀

  • jayellbee
    jayellbee Trevtwn

    Posted

    Hi Trevtwn

    I'm 8 weeks into my 5th metatarsal fracture - along with that fracture, i have also ripped all the ligaments away from the bones in majority of my foot but thanks to some sort of miracle, have had no displacement so no surgery is required (at least at the moment)

    I've had a fibreglass cast for 5 weeks and am getting it off in 5 days (Can't even begin to describe my level of exciement!)

    Currently praying that I can begin WB ASAP - i also have arthritis in both my knees so my other knee has been taking a beating doing all the WB :P

    I'm a dancer and i'm super scared that its going to take me months and months to get back to it - obviously the logical part of me knows that I won't be going back for another couple of weeks an i wont be fully recovered for quite a while but i'm going stir crazy not being able to do anything.

    I need a decent pep up because its seeming a bit gloomy on my end at the moment.

    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 jayellbee

      Posted

      did you hurt your foot dancing? The Jones fracture is a classic dancers fracture. I ballroom dance. Good luck to you!!!
    • jayellbee
      jayellbee sandi27417

      Posted

      surprisingly no, i didnt hurt my foot dancing - actually on a trampoline. jumped into an airbag and landed on my back with my foot awkwardly stuck under me. fun times :P
    • Trevtwn
      Trevtwn jayellbee

      Posted

      Ha, just to add to it all, I just burned the heck out of my finger on my waffle iron.

      I saw ortho yesterday and he advised at least six weeks no WB, with an xray two weeks from now. Hope it knits.

      As for your worries about dancing, shelve them. You will dance, just may not be as soon as you would like. Take it easy and heal the right way, not the rushed way. I had spent about eight years in the gym only to mess up both shoulders.  I had surgery on them, and rushed back into the gym like an idiot.  Now, a few years later I am supposed to have another surgery on one shoulder (postponed up by this darn foot), and the other shoulder still causes me some issues, all probably due to my haste to not get left behind in my favorite activity.

      Also, my ex sister-in-law danced for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and blew her knees out, which ended that.  What I mean is, we all broke an annoying foot bone, not a femur, or a spine, etc., so as terrible as it seems, in the comparative sense, it isn't that bad. A year from now it will just be a nasty memory.

       

  • Trevtwn
    Trevtwn

    Posted

    In case anyone is reading this, now it has been about 12 days since I ran like an idiot and broke by foot.  The first 8 days or so were quite painful, with cramping and an inability to relax my foot when I was moving my leg.  It took a while to be able to relax my foot when moving my leg, and now the pain is minimal.  I jarred my leg today, however, and it took a few moments to get things under control.  I abandoned crutches (couldn't use them because of my shoulder) and ended up in a knee walker (i-walk free 2.0) which is a knee crutch.  The ability to walk around and use my hands is fantastic, and I recommend this product immensely.  Good enough for Harrison Ford, good enough for me!  I see the ortho next Wednesday for an x-ray, and will post what is going on for anyone who is interested in the progress of this crappy injury.

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